Hansard

India Office Library And Records

Volume 19: debated on Monday 8 March 1982

Download text
Back to top Previous debate Next debate
The text on this page has been created from Hansard archive content, it may contain typographical errors.
Mr. Forman

asked the Lord Privy Seal what arrangements he proposes for the safeguarding of the collections at the India Office library and records.

Mr. Hurd

The India Office Library and Records is a department in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. It includes the records of the East India Company and the India Office since the former's foundation in 1600. Its present accommodation is approved by the Lord Chancellor as a place of deposit of public records in accordance with section 4(i) of the Public Records Act 1958.In order that these valuable collections may be managed in association with one of the world's great research libraries, we have agreed to a proposal that, with effect from 1 April 1982, they should be deposited with the British Library, to be held on trust by the British Library Board. The board welcomes this proposal and sees the collections as a major enhancement of the British Library's own internationally-famous resources. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the British Library Board have agreed the following arrangements for this deposit:

  • i. "The printed books, documents and objects for which the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs is responsible, which are at present in or in the care of the India Office Library and Records and which relate to those countries and territories which at any time before 15 August 1947 came within the area of interest at any given time of the India Office and the East India Company (hereinafter referred to as "the Collections") will be deposited by the Secretary of State with the British Library Board to be held by the Board on trust for the Secretary of State, who will retain the beneficial title to the Collections. However, privately owned items on loan to the India Office Library and Records, and records in or in the care of the India Office Library and Records and withheld from public inspection in accordance with the Public Records Act 1958 and 1967, are excluded from these arrangements.
  • ii. the Board will preserve and maintain the Collections and provide public access to them in so far as resources granted to it by Parliament permit.
  • iii. The Board will provide the Secretary of State with an annual report on the Collections.
  • iv. The Secretary of State may, upon giving due notice in writing to the Board, withdraw from the Board that part of the Collections which was in the possession of the India Office on 15 August 1947, and the Board will maintain the identity of this material against such an eventuality. Upon the withdrawal of the material, it will cease to be held by the Board on trust for the Secretary of State.
  • v. In the event of such a withdrawal the Secretary of State will meet all costs related to the withdrawal including redundancy payments to members of staff if necessary, while the Board may, at its own expense and subject to any applicable provisions of the law of copyright, make copies of the items to be withdrawn.
  • vi. The necessary instruments to give effect to these heads of agreement will be drawn up as soon as possible, and will enter into force on a date to be mutually agreed".

    • The staff of the India Office Library and Records will be offered contracts in the employ of the British Library on terms and conditions similar to those they have at present. There will be no change in the availability of the collections to the students, scholars and ordinary readers from many countries who have hitherto made use of them.